Falling for Gracie

“Perfect.”

Neda gave Gracie her number, then confirmed the time of the meeting. When they hung up, Gracie shrieked as she twirled through the kitchen.

Pam laughed. “I take it that was good news.”

“Better than good. In terms of career highlights, this is a grand-slam home run.”

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

GRACIE WAS STILL floating later that afternoon when she returned to her house. She had more decorations to make and she seemed to do those best in a quiet place without Pam watching.

She set up her supplies in the dining room, then pulled out sketches for the next three cakes she had to make. Five minutes later she had her list of decorations required, with a few extras for breakage. It was daunting, but she was sure she was up to the task. She was going to have to be, now that she’d hit the big time.

“A six-page spread,” she said aloud, just to hear the wonderful words herself. Talk about a good life.

While the People magazine spread had made her known to the world, a feature in a major bridal magazine put her in front of her actual clients. With this free advertising coming her way, the decision to expand had just been made for her.

She started work on the leaves. After rolling out the gum paste to an even thickness, she used a tulip petal cutter, then trimmed each flower into individual petals. Using a sharp veining tool, she drew in lines and points on the leaves, then carefully placed them on a flower form dusted with cornstarch so they would dry in a curving shape. According to her calculations, she would need about three hundred and sixty leaves for the cakes. When those were done, she would start on the flowers themselves. Good thing she enjoyed working late into the night.

She’d just settled into a steady rhythm of making leaves when she heard a car outside. She stood and walked toward the front door just as someone rang the bell.

But it wasn’t any someone, she thought as she opened the door. It was Riley.

“Hi,” he said. “I was driving by and I saw your car.”

She felt giddy and nervous and a little bit melty on the inside. “I’m glad you stopped.” She stepped back to let him in. “What brings you to the low-rent side of town?”

“A couple of things.”

He pushed the door closed, then pulled her close and kissed her. The melty sensation spread to her entire body. She closed her eyes and let herself get lost in the kiss. This was actually turning out to be a very good day.

“Feel free to stop by for that anytime,” she said when he’d straightened.

He grinned. “I will. But that’s not the only reason. I wanted to ask you out to dinner.”

Her insides gave a little lurch. “Really?”

“Really. Mac called me earlier and suggested the four of us go out to eat tonight. I thought it would be fun.”

Her first thought was that she’d never made it over to Jill’s and that they could talk over dinner. Her second thought was…

“Fun? Fun?” She stared at him. “Have you been taken over by those aliens from Pam’s place? Fun? It won’t be fun. The four of us in a restaurant together? Us on a date? In public? Have you forgotten the ‘Gracie Chronicles’? Do you have any idea what people will say? The scandal? You’re running for mayor and I’m trying to have a normal life here. That is not going to happen if the four of us go out to dinner.”

He looked at her. “Is that a no?”

“What? Of course not. I’m just ranting. What time should I be ready?”

He narrowed his gaze. “You’re doing this on purpose, aren’t you? You’re trying to make me freak out.”

“Not at all.” She grinned. “Okay, maybe a little. But people will talk. Walk with me. I have to work. I’m falling behind and that’s never good.”

She led the way into the dining room and motioned to the chairs around the table. “Have a seat. I have to do leaves.”

He settled across from her. “Making cakes is a lot of work.”

“Tell me about it. Oh, guess what happened. You’ll never guess, so I’ll tell you. I got a phone call today.” She told him about her upcoming interview with Neda Jackson. “I can’t believe it. Do you know what this is going to do for my business?”

“Make it explode.”

“Exactly.”

“I’ve seen your calendar, Gracie. You’re already stretched pretty thin. Does this mean you’re ready to expand?”

“I don’t know. If I get much more work, I’m going to have to hire some help. So I guess, yes. It’s just I hate to give up the control. I love doing all the cakes myself.”

“You can only put in so many hours a day. It sounds as if you’re about to have to make a big career decision.”

“Do I have to?” she asked.

“Not if you don’t want to.”

She sighed. She knew he was right. She’d been building her business based on word of mouth for the past five years. Things were about to get complicated. There was no way she could do more cakes-not during the busy wedding season of late spring through summer. Which meant she either started saying no or she got herself a staff.

“I guess I’m about to expand,” she said slowly.

“Good for you. Where will you set up shop? Here?”

She made a strangling sound in her throat. “Not even for money. Los Lobos is not my idea of fun. I’ll head back to L.A.”

“I’m with you on that,” he said. “At least on leaving Los Lobos.”

“But you won’t be. Once you win the election, you’ll be mayor. Isn’t it a four-year term?”

“The will says I have to win, not that I have to serve.”

She dropped her veining tool onto the table. “You’ll just walk away from everything? What about the bank? Will you sell it?”

That would be okay, she told herself. Her mother’s loan would simply transfer to the next owner. No doubt the local bank would be bought out by some big multinational concern.

“I’d shut it down,” he said.

“I don’t understand.”

He shrugged. “Once I own the bank, I can pretty much do what I want. I’ll close the doors. That damn business was the only thing my uncle cared about. I want it to disappear, as if it never existed.”

Revenge. Of course. She’d forgotten that’s what all this was about for him. Getting back at his uncle.

“But if the bank closes, what happens to all the people who have money in it?”

“They get it all back. The accounts are cleared out, the loans called, debts paid. Then nothing.”

Loans called? “What do those people do? The ones who owe the money?”

“Get other financing.”

“What if they can’t?”

“Not my problem.”

But it might be hers. Although she was pretty sure her mother would be able to secure another loan. The house was paid for and she’d only borrowed enough for Vivian’s wedding. At least Gracie hoped that was all she’d borrowed.

He smiled. “Pam’s loan on her bed-and-breakfast is through the bank. That’s got to be good news for you.”

“I guess, but I’m worried about everyone else. Riley, I know you want to get back at your uncle and I